Abstract

Different from the existing literature who focusing on macro-geographical scale (regional or national level), this book investigates the causes and socio-economic effects of foreign direct investment in the Dongguan municipality of southern China during the 1990s. As the first comprehensive research based on primary quantitative and qualitative data undertaken in Dongguan, it is illustrated that the inflow of foreign capital have its ‘desirable’ and ‘undesirable’ socio-economic effects. In addition to being the first comprehensive research based on primary quantitative and qualitative data undertaken in Dongguan, the book proposes a ‘dynamic symbiosis’ paradigm of foreign direct investment to investigate interaction between the political and socio-economic spheres and their mutual dependence on and relationship with different players in the host country. By applying the paradigm to Dongguan, the political and socio-economic impetus to foreign investment and the resultant effects are illustrated together with the interaction between and the influence of the various players.